Here are 10 top tips for a successful Family Holiday in Lanzarote if you decide to visit?
As most regular readers will know we have 3 little girls under 4. A just 4 year old, and 3 year old identical twin girls. We usually have a family holiday in November for child care reasons, but until now have stuck to the UK thinking a long haul flight with all 3 would be a nightmare. I don’t know why it took me so long to realise that the canaries would work really well. Only 4 hours away from the UK and with temperatures around 24 degrees, our trip to Lanzarote in November has been just about perfect. The week has been cloudy on some days admittedly but this actually works for toddlers very well, as it keeps them out of excessive heat all day. With inexpensive tour operators flying out to Lanzarote most days of the week, this little bit of winter sun might just be in your reach..
So what are my ten top tips for a successful Family Holiday in Lanzarote if you decide to visit?
1 Chose your location carefully. We stayed in Puerto Calero, which is beautiful. Really good restaurants and nice cafe bars. There is a large promenade for the kids to run about on, but there is no beach. We spent quite a few days driving down to the beaches near Playa Blanca. It was only 20 minutes away, and we had a car, so we would happily stay here again, but depends on what you like!
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2 The weather has been better in Playa Blanca than Puerto de Carmen? Possibly just the week we have had but when there have been black clouds in Puerto del Carmen, it has still been sunny in Playa Blanca! My top tip here though is try and get to another part of the island, if the weather where you are is playing up. It can be incredibly different!
3 There are (at least) two brand new play areas in Playa Blanca. My three loved the large pirate ship which is just off the beach front. There was climbing frames on one side of it and slides on the other. They walked across the rope bridge and played through a re-enactment of Peter Pan, a current favourite film.
4 There are a few little rides on Playa Blanca beach front, so you need some change, if your little ones are likely to want to go on those. Whose kids don’t!
5 The locals are really child friendly and love you to bring your children to their restaurants. We have had some fabulous meals out with our 3 this week. It isn’t something we do a lot of at home, so I wanted to do loads this week, and it paid off. We’ve had a great time, some lovely meals and the kids always end up with a lollipop
6 There are proper sandy beaches at the Playa Blanca end of the Island. I’d always thought there was only black sand in Lanzarote so I was genuinely surprised and delighted by the beautiful beaches. It has been the highlight of our week, and hubby and Grandad have built the girls cars, mermaids, aeroplanes, boats and large holes to play in.
7 The beaches at Papagayo are accessible for little ones, although the one we went to you couldn’t have taken a push chair. There was however a restaurant and toilets which are essentials for us! You can read my post on these beaches here.
8 If it does rain, like it did one day for us, there is a large soft play centre in Puerto del Carmen. At 4 euros per child to get in, its the equivalent price to similar places at home. It’s in a large shopping centre, so whilst the children play, one of the adults can escape to do some shopping! Guess which adult that was!
9 Find accommodation with a pool which is easy to access. We’ve had a fantastic time at the beach, but with young children you sometimes just want to be in easy reach of food, toilets and clothes. Some days you don’t want to pack it all up and head out. We also often have days where one wants to play and the others don’t. So a place where you can have one or two children in the pool and the other playing on the ipad in the room/villa can be worth its weight in gold!
10 Remember that the little ones don’t care what the weather is like. If it’s cloudy they are unlikely to notice, so just head out anyway and enjoy playing on the beach. If it is November time when you’re travelling, take some cardigans and a light rain mac and embrace it!
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Karen Beddow founded Mini Travellers in 2014 while doing what she loves most...going on holiday!
Mini Travellers is for parents looking for holiday ideas, destination reviews, days out and things to do with the kids. We also have family travel tips, activity ideas and all other things family holiday related. Take a look at some of our latest reviews for holidays and day trips in the UK.
Looks fab, it’s somewhere we are considering for February I have to say. The beaches do look good and restaurants that welcome kids is a definite bonus in my view!
We were quite sceptical but loved it
This is a great review and there are some extremely helpful tips here. All the photographs make it look so beautiful and you obviously had a great time. However, I have now gone green with envy. Hugs Mrs H xxxx
Thanks Mrs H. Def South of the island for me.
Love this, I so need some winter sun , and it looks just great for kids xx
Very child friendly Sarah
Oh I do love reading a good holiday post, especially a sunny one at this time of year. Cheers me up no end!
Sounds like you had a fantastic time. Makes me want to book a little getaway ASAP. Fab pictures too, my favourite is the one of your daughter in the pool – such a captured moment!!
Yes that’s one of my holiday faves too. Thanks Heledd.
Another fabulous holiday! WOW! Sounds great! Again, will have to look in to this one! What a superb site you have. I worried enough before when it was just me! 🙂 xxx
We have been very lucky this year. Making the most of the time before Lily starts school.
looks n sounds wonderful. love the pool action photo!! #PoCoLo
thanks Chantelle, one of my favourites definitely!
Looks like you had a great time! I went to Lanzarote years ago and really enjoyed it. We’re heading to Tenerife in February with our son who will be 7 months old and as you say, the Canaries are great for being a short ish flight but nice weather xx #TheList
Glad you had a great time in Lanzarote and the villa worked well! Great review, Jo
Thanks Jo. Maybe Princessa Yaiza next time!
Some brilliant tips here – I went to Lanzarote with my mum years ago and it was one the best holidays I ever had. Would love to go on a family holiday there one day so these tips are really useful, 🙂
#TheList
Jenna at Tinyfootsteps xx
Looks like a perfect place for families, with enough things to keep them busy. The weather looks so good!
This is a really great review and I’m all for people championing the Canary Islands – my Dad has lived in Tenerife for 20 years so it’s like a second home to me.
You’re absolutely right that if the weather is playing up in one part of the island it can be sunny somewhere else. My Dad lives in the mountains so it’s quite cold in winter but by the time we reach the coast we’re in t-shirts, our girls think this is really funny! Last Christmas Day we went to the beach in the morning and then went to find snow on Teide in the afternoon!
Lovely picture, your family obviously had a great holiday!
Xx
Oh your girls are adorable and it sounds like a fun holiday. Some great tips for getting away with children too, love your holiday snaps 🙂 xx
As you know, I have written about Lanzarote – but from rather a long time ago! It looks better than ever now and I love all of your tips. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo 🙂 x
Oh that looks like it was a lovely holiday and the weather looks gorgeous. Am looking out on the November drizzle and wishing I could teleport myself there instead! I love the photo of your three girls in the sand-car on the beach – such happy faces. Sadly Lanzarote is not on our radar as Jessica isn’t allowed to fly but so glad you and your family had such a wonderful time there #HappyDaysLinky
Sounds like you had a brilliant holiday overall, can’tbeat the Canaries really. We’ve got our first trip abroad as a family of five in May, to Greece. Can’t wait!! #PoCoLo
Great review and it sounds amazing. I adore your photos! Beautiful x #HappyDays
thanks Abby
For some reason I forget the Canaries are still warm this time of year! What a great idea to go there and get some much needed winter sun!! Thanks for the tips. Looks like you had a fantastic time! #pocolo x
Also thanks for linking it up to #TheList x
It looks like you all had a wonderful holiday! I love your photos, they really capture the joy on your children’s faces. Just lovely!
#HappyDays
thank you it really was wonderful
I have never been but it looks fab! Hard to imagine you being away in sunshine when it is soooooo cold here!! We are looking to go away next summer so will have a look at Lanzarote for sure!
Thanks for joining in with our #HappyDaysLinky xx
Looks like you all had a lovely time! I’m very jealous, can’t wait to get away for a bit of sunshine! Xx
thanks it was fab, thanks for commenting
Ooh it looks like you had a wonderful time! 24 degrees?? Bliss! I’ve never thought about holidaying in November – but it makes so much sense until the kids start school!
Thank you so much for linking up to #TWTWC xx
We love Lanzarote and think it’s fantastic for a family holiday. We particularly like Playa Blanca – beaches are lovely and it’s great for food and fun as well. Glad you enjoyed your stay over there!
We will definitely be going again!
Thank you for this list. It helped us looking for things to do for our teen and tween actually. And we found plenty! Surfing and Scuba lessons, volcanoes and Pirate Museums! Awesome. We’re based in Valencia, Spain now, but wimps when it comes to cold — Even Valencian winters are cold for us! Give me Lanzarote weather every day please!
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Heya.
We spent a whole week back in April living in Guildford. We travelled there in the family caravan and visited the shops in question. We went to the town cathedral.
I also took a lot of colourful photos and we explored the entire area too. We also went to the Lido and the local leisure centre as well. We swam. We had free picnics. And we had a lot of fun in addition there. We talked. We went down to the wharf.
We are going on a mini family vacation to Dorset. We will stay in a cottage there and explore the entire place.